Wardrobe



J T. FAIRHURST July 8, 1930.

WARDROBE Original. Filed April 27, 1927 4 ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5 270622 Faz'r zz/Uf J ly 8, 1930.

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- J. T. FAIRHURST July 8, 1930. WARDROBE Re. 17,721

Original Filed April 27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2? Zzy 71 IIIIIHIH IIIIHI [Ilk- I INVENTOR l 9 otherwise injure the edges of the slabs of Reissued July 8,

UNIT-Ell STATES Re. '17 ,7z1,

PATENT OFFICE JOHN T. FAIRHURST, FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO J. COB- POBATION, OF NEW Y?ORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA WARDROBE 1 Original 1T0. 1,658,593, dated February LP 192B, Serial 110. 186,870, filed April 27,1927. Application Ior Y reissue filed June 22, 1929. Serial No. 373,032.

This invention relates to a wardrobe and more particularly to that type of wardrobe in which the doors employed for closing the same are so mounted as to slide and partially revolve in order to economize space bothinside and outside of the wardrobe.

' Heretofore, wardrobes, cabinets and similar structures have been provided with'doors so mounted as to slide and swing, that is to slide and to also partially revolve In this type of wardrobe the doors arefusually constructed to normally close the front-or face portion of the wardrobe and are usually'two in number, that isthere 'is a pair of v doors.

In some nstances wardrobes are made 1n.

sections separated from each other by partitions, and each section rovided with a pair of doors, each pair of oors being separated bythe partition which separa tes the sections of the wardrobe. 'These .doors as usually constructed aremounted to slide and swing in such a manner that the adjacent edges of the doors when closed assume a substantially central'position relatively to the front ofqthe wardrobe, and in opening the doors that is causing the same to slide and swing the adjacent edges thereof move outwardly.

front whenclosed, some .oLthedoors must When mounted to swing in this manner there is no material-interference between the adjacent edges ofthedoors as the same are movedapart in opening either one or both doors to gain access to the wardrobe. However, in instances where it is desirable to use a plurality or number'of doors greater than two and to arrange them is .a continuous I be mounted to turn inlth'e other direction,

that is to cause their normally adjacent edges to move inwardly,vand in such cases there may be an' obvious interference between theadjacent edges of the doors. Thls ,is decidedly disadvantageous; in many places, 7 where for example n the use inclass rooms,

-for use as black boards, in which'instance it lecture hallsanddikeplaces, the faces of the doors .may be fitted with slabs (if-slate will be manifest any interference between the edges of adjacent doors in moving inwardly would tend to crack and break or slate so as to mar their appearance and break the continuity of the blackboardwhich is otherwise continuous when the doors are closed. Of course, it will be understood that in this particular use ofthe use in class rooms and lecture halls and to extend the entire length or width or a material part thereof across one side of the" room and in which the front members of the wardrobe are sliding and swinging doors each provided with a slab of slate or other similar 1 material forming a blackboard. In structures of this kind the doors are necessarily of a greater number than two, and the adjacent edges of predetermined doors must swing inwardly instead of outwardly, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide devices associated with the inwardly moving edges of adjacent doors for parting the same or causing them to separate or shift sufficiently upon their initial inward and final outward movement to prevent them from v contacting with each other and consequently obviating the liability of m'arring, breaking or otherwise injuring the inwardly swinging edges of adjacent doors. The apparatus by which this is accomplished as well as the apparatus employed in carrying out other objects of the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation and partial cross section illustrating a wardrobe made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation illustrating a form of guide member emlarged scale on line 5 5, Fig. 1.

elevation of the structure vployed at the bottom of the inwardly mov- Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken on line l01() Fig. 5. I

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10. v

Fig. 12 is a partial plan on an enlarged scale of the top of one of the doors.

Fig. ,13 is a sectional elevation on line.

l3-l3, Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is a plan showing another form of guide as employed at the lower end of one of the doors. 7

As illustrated in the drawing, the wardrobe in which the present invention is incorporated comprises a rear wall 20, end walls 21 and 22, a base or floor 23, a top Wall 24 and a stringer or upper board 25 extending across the front which is otherwise open and fitted with doors 26, 27, 28 and 29 which fill the open front of the wardrobe and when shut enclose the same. Obviously, the wardrobe may be constructed as a unit or built in as a part of a building or otherwise. It will be equally obvious that the doors may be made in any suitable manner. As illustrated, however, each door in its lower portion is fitted with a panel 30 and in its upper face portion with a slab of slate 31. Exteriorly each door may also be provided with a rack 32 for holding crayon, chalk or other materials for marking on the slate, as well as erasers for oblite rating the marks. The doors are so constructed and arranged as to form a continuous front for the wardrobe .whereby as will be understood when the doors are closed the adjacent edges thereof abut against each other making the blackboard a substantially continuous structure so as to present a uniform and neat appearance and to be usable for school, lecture and other purposes.

The doors may be mounted to slide and to swing or rotate in a manner which is old in the art so as to be moved from their normally closed positions in which they enclose the Wardrobe to open positions in which they lie within the wardrobe in substantially their entireties. This of course, the Width of the doors and the depth of the wardrobe, but in any event, the doors when open do not protrude appreciably beyond the front of thewardrobe. To this end for example, the door 27 is mounted'to move on a hanger which runs on a curved track. As

illustrated in the drawing, there is a bracket 33 having an arcuate track 34 which is substantially a quadrant, this bracket being suitably connected in, the upper portion of the wardrobe by being secured to a cross will depend upon bar 35 and the adjacent portion of the stringer piece 25 or otherwise. There is a hanger 36 fitted with rollers 37 and 38 which are adapted to run on the track 34. The hanger 36 has a spindle 39 swiveled in lugs 40 and 41, the upper end of the spin-,

dle being provided with a head 42 which determines its position in one direction relatively to the lugs 40 and 41. The spindle 39 also is swiveled in lugs 43 and 44 on a plate 45 which is suitably secured by means of screws or otherwise to the inner face of the door 27 adjacent the upper end thereof and in a substantially centrally disposed position. The spindle39 beneath the lug 44.is fitted with nuts 46 which may be adjusted to determine the position of the door relatively to the hanger and the track upon which it moves.

The door 28 may be mounted to slideand swing or rotate in a similar manner by means of a bracket 47 including a curved track 48 and a hanger 49 similar in all respects to those hereinbefore described. In like manner, the door 26 is mounted to slide and turn or rotate by means of a bracket 50 having a curved track 51 and a hanger 52.

In carrying out the invention in the present case the inwardly moving vertical edge of each'door is provided both at the bottom and at the top thereof with devices for guid-' ence to the drawing it will be seen that the adjacent edges of the doors 27 and 28 move being opened and in order inwardly upon to effect the shifting of the doors to a position in which these inwardlymovin edges do not contact with each other, the oors as hereinbefofe stated at these inner edges are provided also on the bottom and at the top with devices for effecting this shifting movement. At the bottom of the door 27 and in a position spaced slightly from the edge thereof which is adjacent the edge of the door 27'there is suitably mounted arod 53. As illustrated, particular reference being made to Figs. 2 and 3, this rod is journaled to swivel in lugs 54 and 55 extending from a plate 56 which by means of screws 57 or otherwise is secured to the lower inner face of the door adjacent this inwardly moving edge thereof. Adjacent the lug 54 the rod 53 is fitted with a collar 58 and spaced there from and relatively adjacent the lug 55 the rod is also provided with a collar 59 which is normally maintained against a pin .60 extending through and projecting from the rod by means of a spring v61 which surrounds the rod and extends between the col lens 58 and 59, whereby as will be understood the door is supported to a certain extent by this rod and the devices immediately to be described. At the lower end of the]. rod the same is provided with a yokeiheadji.

face of which is wedge shape as is also clearly indicated in the drawing, whereby as will be understood the roller is particularly adapted to engage the track andcannot easily jump or become disengaged therefrom. In suitable positions the track 67 may be provided with flanges 68 so that: by screws the. edge (of the door 27 is provided-with a or bolts or other suitable means the track is secured tothe base or floor of the wardrobe Also as clearly indicated in the drawing, the

, track adjacent its outer end is provided with a moreor less sharp bend or curve 69. This bend or curve in the track directs thetravel of the roller and through the same and the rod with its connections to the door causes the door to shift crosswise thereof a predetermined distance upon its initial movement in moving the same to an open position. In order to effect this purpose, the roller 65 is mounted in a position in the yoke head ofl'-' set from the axis of the rod as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, and in order to provide for the shifting of the door from one position to the other,'that is from its open to its closed position, and vice versa, the lower inner surface of the door is recessed as indicated at 70 to accommodate the various positions of the yoke head.

In its uppered-ge the door 27 is provided with a plate 71 which is preferably set in a recess provided therefor and which is secured in position by means of screws 72 or otherwise. On the forward end of. the plate 71 there is a roller 73. This is mounted on a screw shaft 7 4 and is adapted to travelin a groove 75 provided for this purpose in a guide rail 76 which extends crosswise of the wardrobe in the upper portion thereof. In the groove 75 there is a' relatively sharpbend or curve 77 which corresponds in position and degree with the curve 69 in the track 67, it being understood that the groove 75 is placed immediately above the track 67 and corresponds therewith ;.in outline and extent, This roller operating in the groove performs thesame function at the top of the door as the rod and the associated parts do at the bottom of the door, in other words,

upon the initial movement. of the "door due to the curve in the groove and also in the 1 I track the edge of the door is shifted, that is j the door moved transversely so as not to come in c'ontactwith the adjoining edge "of the adjacent door. In the'lower guiding ,de-

vice as hereinbefore' described, being attached to the lower inner surface of the-door exteriorly thereof, makes it necessary to causethe. track 67 and the grooi e 7 5 to ex-i tend at an angle or-inclina tion to the-; ward robe transverselythereof, these positions be-.5

ing indicated injFigsf-' and 5 of the draw? ing. The reason for this is that it is-Qd'e-f sirable to have the door whenopenassume a. position as near as'possible to right angles to that which it assumeswhen in a closed position. It is quite possible as hereinafter described tomount the guiding devices at the lower end of the door beneath the sameso that the tracks and grooves may-run in a trulytransverse direction. froln the curved portions. thereof to their inner ends.

The door 28 at the edge thereof adjacent head78'siu lil ar in all respects to'theheadtrack 67- with the exception that 'the' bent portions thereofare in reverse positions. Similarly the upper edge of the door 28.ad-

l n -theedge adjoining the door 27 is fitted with a roller 81 corresponding to the roller 73 and running in a groove 82 in a guide rail" 83, the groove 82 correspondingto the groove and the guide rail 83 being integral with or the complement of the guide rail 76, it be p I I ing understood that the groove 82 is provided with a bend or curve 84 similarto andicorresponding in position withthe curve in' the groove. 75 so that the action of shifting the door transversely is accomplished in the same manner upon the initial movement of the I 110 follows that when either of these doors isdoor 28 as that of the door 27 It therefore'v open and closed alone or when these-doors;

are opened and closed simultaneously the v iocj same are shifted laterally or transversely' of themselves in order to prevent their inwardly moving adjacent edges from coming into contact with and damaging each other. Furthermore, the fitting at the upper adjacent edges of these doors is such that the rollers 7 3 and 81 wedge when-the doorsare closed so as to assist in maintaining the doors in" their closed positions,.for. example as indi-- cated in Fig. 13, theguide rail 76 may be provided with an insert 77. made of metal or other material to prevent undue wear thereof fining the groove the roller-7 3 is adapted to Wedge when the dooris closed. r

Also as is customary in some structures of like nature, the doors are provided with mem and against which andjthe adjacent'face debers for guiding or directing the movements thereof when sliding and rotating or swing ing from an open to a closed position, and vice versa. For example the door 27 may be provided with a positioning lever 85 which at one end is journaled in a plate 86 secured to the floor or base of the wardrobe and at its other end pivotally connected to a bracket 87 which is secured to the lower inner face of the door in a centrally disposed position. The plate 86 is provided with a boss or pin 88 which acts as a stop for the lever which when the door is opened contacts with this member. This is illustrated in the corresponding parts of the door 26 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. In a similar manner the door 28 is provided with a positioning lever 89 swiveled at one end in a plate90 secured to the floor or base of the wardrobe. At its other end this lever 89 is p ivotally connected to a bracket 91 which is fixed to the lower inner face of the door in a substantially central position. The plate 90, like the plate 86, is also provided with a stop, the stop on the plate 90 being designated at 92. The door 26 as illustrated, is provided with devices similar to those hereinbefore described for guiding the movements thereof in opening and closing the same. For example there is a track 93 similar to the tracks 67 and 79 and-the door is provided with a yoke head 94 and devices associated therewith similar to those hereinbefore described in detail as connected to the door 27 As hereinbefore stated, the devices for directing the initial movement of the adjacent edges of the doors'may be mounted within instead of exteriorly of the doors. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a rod 95 similar to the rod 93 is mounted in a recess 96 provided therefor in the lower portion of a door. This rod 95 is connected to a plate 97 by being journaled to swivel in lugs 98 and 99 extending from the plate into the recess 96, the plate97 being secured to the door by means of screws 100 or otherwise. This rod 95 is mounted on a spring 101 which functions in a manner similarto the spring 61 and at its lower end the rod 95 is provided with a yoke head 102 in which there is a roller 103 having a peripheral Vshaped groove adapted to run on a wedge shape track 104 which is secured in place by means of flanges 105 fixed to the floor or base or otherwise. This track 104 is curved adjacent its outer end and then may extend in a directly transverse direction to its inner end. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the head 102 at the lower end of the'rod 95 assumes a position entirely within. the confines of the door.

In orderto assist in maintaining each door in the position in which it closes the wardrobe or cabinet,'I may employ a latch edge of the door and adapted to engage in a recess in a plate suitably secured in position abovethe door. The latch 109 of each door is connected by a rod 111 with a pintle 112 connected with which exteriorly of the door is a lever 113 and a handle 114, while connected to the pin-tle interiorly of the door is a knob 115. The latch, its rod and the handle and knob may be yieldingly maintained in a normal position by any suitable means, whereby as will be apparent the latch may be withdrawn exteriorly of the door by operating the lever 113 and its handle 114 and also interiorly of the door should this be necessary by operating the knob 115.

As illustrated in the drawing and particularly in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8, the door 29 at one end of the cabinet is mounted to slide and rotate without the use of the bracket having the arcuate track and the hanger associated with the same and the door as hereinbefore described. in conjunction with the manner in which the other doors are mounted. In this instance, in the upper portion a groove 117 therein and secured in the upper edge of the door there is a roller-118 mounted in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the. roller 73 and adapted to run in the groove" cabinet the groove 117 and the track 120 may be straight throughout their entireties as there is no necessity for shifting the door in order to prevent the vertical edge thereof from contacting with any adjacent surface. The roller 119 in this construction not only forms the main support for the door, but also directs the inward movement of the adjacent vertical edge of the of the cabinet there is a cross bar 116 having 0 same when moving inwardly as well as outwardly. In this structure also, at the bottom of the door there is a support and ide lever 121. As illustrated, one end 0 this lever is provided with a pin 122 adapted to be received in a socket 123 in a plate 124 fixed in the floor or base of the wardrobe. The plate 124 in a manner similar to the corresponding plates hereinbefore described is preferably fitted vvith'a stop pin 125 todetermine the swinging movement of the lever 121 in its inward direction. .e other or outer end of the lever 121 is turned upwardly and at its extremity is of reduced be pivotally connected tolugs 127-;and 128.

extendin from a bracket 129, which latter is suitab y connected in a centrally disposed position adjacent the inner surface of the door. This lever 121 as will be apparent not only guides the door in the sliding and rotating movement thereof in being opened and closed, but also assists in' supporting the same. 7 I

To guide or direct the sliding and rotating movement of the door at the upper end thereof there is a lever 130. The outer end or arm 131 thereof is made to terminate in a pin 132 which is adapted to be received in a socket 133 provided therefor in a cross-v bar 134 suitably fixed in the upper portion of the wardrobe. The opposite or outer end I of this lever 130 terminates in a head 135 adapted tofit within lugs 136, 137 extending from a bracket 138 and to be pivotally connected thereto by afpin 139 extending.

through the lugs and the head and the position of which is determined by the enlarged end or head 140 of the pin in contact with the outer surface of the lug 136. In this structure as will now be readily apparent,

, the door is not 'only adequately mounted to slide and rotate to and from its open and closed positions, but also is readily dismounted for repairs or adjustment or other purposes. Also as illustrated, the wardrobe may be fitted interiorly with a series of brackets 141 upon which are mounted rails or bracket bars 142 so as to form shelves within the wardrobe and each shelf at the outer edge .thereof maybe provided with a plurality tially to meet when closed and mounted to slide horizontally and to swing independently between closed positions in substantial alignment and open positions within the wardrobe, and means for controlling the movement of the doors to cause the adjacent margins to swing inwardly during the movement of the doors from closed to open positions comprising tracks diverging in a direction from the front tothe rear of the wardrobe for guiding respectively the adjacent margins of the doors.

2. In a wardrobe disconnected doors mounted for horizontal sliding and swinging movement between closed positions in which 'their'adjacent margins substantially meet pandyopenpositions in' which said margins are located at the rear of the wardrobe, means for guiding the doors comprising tracks diverging in a direction from the front to the rear of the wardrobe and arranged to guide. the adjacent margins of the doors for causing the doors to recede to positions substantially perpendicular to their closed positions and for preventing their adjacent ed es from contact during their opening and dosing movementsgy g 3. In a wardrobe, doors mounted for horizontal sliding and swinging movement between closed positions in which they form a continuous front for the wardrobeand open positions in whichthey subdivide the wardrobe into separate compartments and means 4. In a wardrobe, co-operating doors each mounted for independent horizontal shding I and swinging movement to carry the adjacent margins of the doors inwardly during the opening of the doors and to bring the adjacent edges substantially into meeting relation when the doors are closed to form a contin-' uous front for thewardrobe, and means comprising flaring tracks for supporting the doors and controlling the movement thereof.

5. In a wardrobe, co-operating doors mounted for independent horizontal sliding and swinging movement between closed positions insubstantial alignment and open po-. sitions in which they subdivide the wardrobe into smaller wardrobe sections, means comprising tracks for supporting and guiding the doors, said tracks bein arranged in d1- vergent relation to cause t e adjacent manna gins of the doors to move to closed and open positio'ns without striking.

6. A wardrobe construction comprising a plurality of doors arranged when closed to extend along the front of the wardrobe in substantially the same plane and mounted for sliding and swinging movement in directions to carry the adjacent margins of certain of said doors inwardly of the wardrobe, tracks at the ends of the wardrobe extending substantially at right angles to said plane for guiding theouter margins of the doors ad-' jacent the ends of the wardrobe, and diverging tracks for guiding the adjacent margins of intermediate doors.

7. A wardrobe construction comprising a plurality of doors mounted for sliding and swinging movement and arranged when closed to extend along the front of the Wardrobe in substantially'the same plane and when open to subdivide the wardrobe into compartments, tracks at the ends of the wardrobe for guiding the outer margins of the doors addoors at the bottoms thereof and engaging jacent the ends of the wardrobe and divergent the respective tracks for guiding independtracks for guiding the adjacent margins of ently said doors. intermediate doors. J OHN T. FAIRHURST. 8. A wardrobe construction comprising a j 7n plurality of doors arranged when closed to extend along the front of thewardrobe in substantially the same plane and mounted for v sliding and swinging movement to carry the 10 adjacent margins of certain of said doors inv 75 wardly of the wardrobe, tracks for guiding the outer margins of'the doors adjacent the ends of the wardrobe, and divergent tracks respectively for guidingone margin of each of the intermediate doors. so

a 9. A wardrobe construction comprising cooperating doors mounted for sliding and swingingmovement fromclosed positions in substantially the same. plane at the front of the wardrobe to open positions within the wardrobe, and devices for guiding the doors to carry the adjacent-margins of said doors inwardly and the remote margins outwardly during the opening movements of the doors, 7 25 comprising means for imparting to each of said doors movements to carry their adjacent margins away from each other during their initial opening movements.

10. A wardrobe construction comprising .30 two or more doors mounted to move to closed positions in substantial alignment and to adacent open positions within the wardrobe subdividing the wardrobe space, with their lateral faces in face to face relation, and di- 35 verging guides extendin from the front to ihe rear ofthe wardro e for guiding the oors.

11. In a wardrobe construction having blackboard carrying doors arranged to close 40 into substantial alignment, providing a subi stantially smooth blackboard surface extending from one door to another, and means com prising diverging guides for guiding the doors to cause the doors to move to open posi- 45 tions in which they form partitions within the wardrobe dividing the wardrobe into smaller sections.

12. In a wardrobe construction, independently operating doors mounted for sliding and swinging movements between open and closed positions and in directions to carry the adjacent margins of the doors inwardly during their opening movements, an overhead track for each of said doors, devices engaging said track for suspending and wholly supporting the corresponding door in a substantially vertical position, and devices respectively for guiding the doors into aligned closed positions along the front of the wardrobe and into open positions within the wardrobe in which they subdivide the wardrobe space comprising spaced floor tracks extending within the wardrobe fromthe front to a5 tharear thereof, and guides respectively at a tached to the adjacent margins of adjacent km 

